Eastern Partnership Celebrates 10 Years

This year, the Eastern Partnership (EaP), celebrates the tenth year since its launch on 7 May 2009 at a European Union Summit held in Prague, Czech Republic. On 13 - 14 May, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, along with representatives from fellow partnership countries and the European Union, is in Brussels to attend events marking the anniversary.

The EaP is an initiative between the European Commission, EU members states and the six participating countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The partnership was formed to encourage economic integration and convergence with the EU, strengthen energy security, and to promote democracy and good governance.

On 13 May, the annual Eastern Partnership Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting took place with the EU’s six Eastern partners, 28 EU member states and Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.

The meeting will discuss the 20 deliverables of the 2020 work plan. Adopted in 2017, the plan aims to benefit citizens throughout the region “through working towards stronger economies, stronger governance, stronger connectivity, and stronger societies.”

Economic development and market opportunities deliverables will be discussed at the meeting. A document, published in 2017 by the European Commission regarding the 20 deliverables, listed the economic development priorities as: supporting EaP Partner Countries to “move towards diversified and vibrant economies, to create jobs in new sectors, attract investments and foster employability; to support macroeconomic stability; to drive economic transition process forward with a few to create an attractive environment, a level-playing field for investments and business, as well as improve the capacity of Partner Countries to take advantage of the trade opportunities within the EU and with each other.”

As such, the EU has contributed over €348 million towards the EU4Business initiative since 2009, supporting over 70,000 enterprises and creating 28,000 new jobs. In addition to monetary support, the EU has given policy advice on macroeconomic stability and macro-financial assistance to partner countries.

Increasing trade between partner countries and the EU is also a priority. Georgian exports to the EU are increasing: the EU now accounts for 27% of Georgian Trade. Indeed, the EU has invested €233 million into the construction of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port that will enable goods to pass directly between the EU and Georgia. The EU has also aided more than 63,000 SMEs, microenterprises and farmers to receive loans in Georgia, trained more than 250,000 farmers, and helped 1,600 farming cooperatives with financial and technical support.

Whilst speaking at a press briefing on May 10, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated that the relationship between Georgia and Europe “is at an all-time high,” whilst underlining that it needs “special care, nurturing and deepening.”

Aside from the economic advantages of the EaP, Georgia benefits from territorial protection offered by the EU, an initiative founded only one year after the 2008 Russian-Georgian war. Although Russia has criticized the Eastern Partnership as an expansion of the EU’s sphere of influence, EU leaders have underlined the freedom of EaP members to choose their own paths.

Along with the meeting on 13 May, various other events and activities will take place across the year to celebrate the EaP initiative and its successes. On Monday evening, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, hosted a celebratory dinner for the six EaP partner countries heads of state. In addition, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, is to host a conference on Tuesday.

By Amy Jones